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On Being The Boss

There's little doubt that many people dream of being a strong and successful leader. However, if there's anything movie drama about such people shows us, be careful what you wish for.

If Game Of Thrones, Knightfall, The Witcher, Vikings, and Medici is based the playbook on becoming a leader, then many people have to die either by your direction or your hand for you to acquire your throne. Spiritualism and a belief in magic deter the motivation of many pretenders. But a belief in God and fate allows others to be more motivated.

The nordic hordes, believing that their lives are fated and will go to Valhalla if they die honorably in battle, are vicious and rarely respect their enemies unless they are skillful fighters.

The Chrisitan fighters are content that their place in the afterlife is guaranteed if they die for Christ while fighting the infidels. Infidel is a loose term that can be applied to anyone trying to overthrow their King.

The same zealotry can be found amongst the Muslim fighters. Then there are the various small tribes who are a hybrid of their own religion and Christianity.

So there we have it, a ready supply of men who are willing to die in battle if it is God's will. Why would you want to become a leader? It's also notable that many of the 'Chosen Ones' are in the reluctant hero category. They are fated to lead because of their lineage. Their father is King, and they are his firstborn son. Everyone in line to become King is killed in battle or otherwise unable to lead. 

In these based on actual events dramas, the hero in these are motivated by many things, but most of them come down being convinced that they are the savior for whom the world has been waiting.

These formulaic stories take some of our heroes down a dark path. Others become better as people as the journey is made. Who these people depend on is always an integral point of the story. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a position paper for his leader, Lorenzo Medici.

What amazes me is the legacy of these mystical characters that carry over today. Today many would look to Berne Sanders as a modern-day Savonarola. Others would see Donald Trump as the Mad King, George III. The mythical Gordon Gecko is not Robin Hood. No matter his protestations that "Greed is good,." Yet these comparisons persist because so many of us believe that we will become the boss someday, like our mythical heroes.

Enough of my mental rantings. Do you remember the Shaggy Dog stories? If you don't, they were stories that seemingly ramble on and one with no direction only to have an outrageous and unexpected ending. Watch this gem discovered by the mischievous eye of the webmaster for St Louis Park High School Class of 1959, David Nitz.  


This one is from David also. However,  this evoked in me a feeling of hope. So often, this kind of public art appears in neighborhoods on their way down. So often, this effort is motivated and created by people that live in these neighborhoods. Ther appearance can pump the brakes on the rate of descent and elevate the people's spirit.


From Camp Jeff located in the City by the Inland Sea




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